Martele is described as

• A. Abrupt release of a stroke in a forceful manner
• B. Smooth legato release
• C. One-note-per-bow detachment
• D. Continuous vibrato

Answer: (A)

Martele is a hammered bow stroke. It describes an abrupt, forceful attack followed by a quick, decisive release, giving the note a short, percussive, highly accented feel. To achieve this, you press into the string for a sharp onset and then release the bow quickly so the sound stops promptly, creating a crisp detachment rather than a smooth connection. This articulation works well for strong rhythmic accents and dramatic phrasing.

It’s different from smooth legato, which aims for a seamless, connected line, and from continuous vibrato, which involves ongoing pitch modulation. It can be played on one note per bow, but the defining trait is the strong, hammer-like release that makes each attack clearly separated and emphatic.